Marvin Wayne Cole

He was born in Terril, Iowa on July 5, 1939, the oldest of 3 boys to parents Leonard and Josephine Cole. He led an interesting life as an amateur photographer, rodeo calf roper, scuba diver, amateur pilot and musician to name a few. He once wrote a song that was sold to a magazine and later sung by Nat King Cole.

Marvin was living in Canada in 1962 enrolled in an accelerated medical program when his mother informed him that his little brother had enlisted in the army and he needed to join too to look after him. Thus began his highly decorated 29-year career in the Army. He was stationed in Japan when he met and married the love of his life, Misa Koizumi on December 8th, 1964.

As a medic in Vietnam, Marvin received many honors including a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. In 1971, he graduated from the inaugural year of the Army’s Physician’s Assistant Program at Ft. Sam Houston at which time he was promoted to Warrant Officer. In 1979, after tours in California and Germany, he returned to Ft. Sam as an instructor at the Academy of Health Sciences PA program.

He transferred back to Japan in 1981. Working at the Camp Zama Clinic specializing in dermatology, Marvin was a favorite of everyone, especially high school students struggling with adolescent acne.

He returned a final time in 1986 to Ft Sam Houston, again as an instructor and retired in 1991 with full honors.

He and Misa then moved to Washington State where he worked various jobs in the medical field before returning to government work at Ft Lewis for 10 years and retiring a final time in 2009.

In 2014, he and Misa moved into the Army Residence Community in San Antonio to be closer to family.

He is preceded in death by his parents Leonard and Josephine, his stepson, Takaichi Koizumi of Japan, his step grandson Michael Maurin and his grandson Kenji Cole. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Misa, his brothers Larry Cole and Roger Cole and his wife Barbara; son Wayne Cole and daughter Cherie Harvey and her husband Kyle; Stepdaughter Joyce Maurin and her husband Donny; Stepchildren Shinjiro Koizumi and Kinue Unno and her husband Isao of Japan, 14 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild.

Interment with full military honors will be held at Ft Sam Houston Memorial Cemetery on Thursday, February 12th at 1:15PM. A reception will be held at the Army Residence Community following the interment. To upload a message or photo or to leave a memory, please visit https://neptunesociety.com/obituaries/san-antonio-tx/marvin-cole-12683915